Our picks for Art-A-Whirl weekend

Art-A-Whirl 5
Originally uploaded by Tubes.

There's a lot to see at Art-a-Whirl this weekend; in fact, maybe too much. With over 500 artists participating in dozens of locations, it could be easy to get lost. We've heard tales of people who walk into the Northrup King building... and never come out again.

Don't panic. We're here to help. Here's a quick list of handpicked events that are officially Craftstravaganza-approved:

• Art/garage sale at "The Stinging Nettle" (344 23rd Ave NE). Certain to be a more low-key gathering if you need a break from the chaos. Art by Kendra and Tart Design plus six other local artists. 10-5 on Saturday only.
  
• Art Minion is, in their words, "the world's largest display of gig posters, kustom kulture, original art and everything kool." We've been meaning to get out here for a while, and Art-a-Whirl is a good excuse. Opening Friday, 7-10 p.m.
• 7th Annual Johnstock. Outdoor indie market across the street from Crafty Planet. We didn't think this was officially affiliated with Art-a-Whirl, but it totally is.  Starts this Saturday at 10 a.m.
  
• Hands-on Activities. Because shopping is fun but getting involved is even better. Paint by Number Workshop: "be a part of creating an ArtCar" at Red Stag Supperclub on Saturday, 1-3 p.m. Interactive Printing at Anthem Heart: bring a blank t-shirt and pick your stencils for a custom screen-printed Minneapolis skyline, only five dollars! Q.arma Building Studio 225, all weekend.
  

Add your recommendations in the comments!

New Flickr photo set

Photos from the show are up on Flickr! Here is one of my favorites of the day. This little girl was clutching her new Fantastic Toys plush while her mom shopped for soap at the Clean Bee booth.

There are over one hundred photos from throughout the day. We also took photos of vendors setting up booths before the show opened, for an "inside look" at craft fair organization. Let us know what you think!

Go straight to the 2009 set, or check out our entire photostream. If you were a vendor or shopper at any of our events, we also encourage you to add your Flickr photos to our new group. Thanks!

Welcome!

Thanks for visiting Craftstravaganza. We hope you enjoy the new site redesign. With our fourth annual show behind us, we're facing another long stretch between hosting our event and planning the next one.

While we take a break from organizing shows, there are plenty of great ones to attend! It's the best time of year for getting out and celebrating art. That's why we started this blog, to help spread the word about local events and share our love for all things handmade.

See you at the fairs!

How to be a Craftstravaganza vendor

Would you like to be a vendor in the Craftstravaganza? We hope that you consider applying for our show! Our next event is tentatively scheduled for spring 2010. We are not accepting applications at this time.

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Are you wondering if you qualify to be a vendor? Our primary criteria for selecting vendors is that all items must be handmade, by you. This means no mass-produced goods, no imports, and no consignment sales. We cannot accept food vendors at our current location. Vendor selection is juried.

Thank you for your interest in the Craftstravaganza!